Tennessee Tech’s ‘Window on the World’ symposium and festival returns April 11-12
Performers lead audiences in a native dance on Tech’s main quad during last year’s
Window on the World festival.
Window on the World, Tennessee Tech University’s annual festival and symposium celebrating
international cultures and cooperation, returns to campus April 11-12, 2025.
The event features musical performances, food vendors, display booths and more. Window
on the World is free and open to the public.
On Friday, April 11, the gathering kicks off with a symposium at 10 a.m. in the Tech
Pride Room of the Roaden University Center. The College of Business will host Michael
Gunter Jr. for a lecture titled “On the Road with Climate Change: Lessons from Across
the United States.”
Gunter, a Cookeville native, is the chair of political science at Rollins College
in Winter Park, Florida, and the author of three books. He speaks nationwide on climate
change politics, ecotourism, and sustainable development. His expertise has been featured
in USA Today, The Washington Post, NPR and others.
Michael Gunter Jr.
On Saturday, April 12, the festival continues at 10 a.m. in Bell Hall Auditorium with
the presentation of the annual Mandala Award and the Hector and Susie Black Peace
and Reconciliation Award.
Tech alumnus, philanthropist and business leader Ashraf Islam will receive the Mandala
Award, which recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to befriending
people from around the world. Islam, a native of Bangladesh, graduated from Tech in
1965 with a degree in civil engineering. As a student, he served as vice president
of the International Student Association and was later chair of the International
Fair, the predecessor of Window on the World.
More recently, Islam made a transformational $3 million gift to Tech’s new engineering
building, which now bears his name. He was also the 2024 recipient of Tech’s Distinguished
Alumnus Award and currently serves on the Tennessee Tech University Foundation Board
of Directors.
Tech Professor of History Troy Smith will receive the Hector and Susie Black Peace
and Reconciliation Award, named for the late Upper Cumberland couple known for publicly
forgiving the man convicted of their daughter’s 2000 murder and petitioning against
the death penalty.
Smith was nominated for the award by Tech alumna Sabrina Bauer, who credited him with
helping her reconnect with her own Indigenous heritage.
From left: Ashraf Islam pictured during his early days as a Tech student, Islam and
his wife, Nasren, at the fall 2024 grand opening of Tech’s Ashraf Islam Engineering
Building, and Tech Professor of History Troy Smith.
“It was because of Troy’s efforts that I was able to reconnect with my people and
establish a connection to my ancestors,” Bauer explained. “Because of his continual
encouragement and support, I have found my people, and I will always be grateful to
him.”
A 2004 Tech graduate, Smith has served in the Department of History for nearly 15
years, focusing on Native American history, Appalachian culture and other topics.
He is the 2024 recipient of the university’s Outstanding Faculty Award for Professional
Service and the College of Arts & Sciences’ Innovative Teaching Award.
Following the award presentations, guests can enjoy music, demonstrations and food
trucks throughout the day, including performances by a Latin band, Irish step dancers
and a Chinese lion dance. Display booths from various international student organizations
will be set up on the main quad from noon to 5 p.m.
For more information about this year’s Window on the World festival, visit www.tntech.edu/centerstage/wow.